US3124457A

US3124457A - Charge

Info

Publication number: US3124457A
Authority: US
Priority date: 1962-04-02
Publication date: 1964-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-10
Also published as: GB1031986A

Description

March 10, 1964 F. A. scI-IwERTz 3,124,457

DIFFERENTIAL IMAGE TRANSFER SYSTEM Filed April 2, 1962 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 PLACE 2ND. CHARGE EXPOSE POLARITY IMAGE DEVELOP UNIFORM ELECTROSTATIC (10R 2 sTEPsI GI-IARGING TRANSFER i PARTIAL L MAGNETIC TRANSFER FIX BACK TRANsFER FIG. .1

Z9 PosITIvE H. v. sou RcE NEGATIVE l H. v. ouRcE H. V. SOURCE FIG 5 INVENTOR.

FREDERICK A. rsGHwERTz A TTORNE) March 10, 1964 F. A. SCHWERTZ 3,124,457.

DIFFERENTIAL IMAGE TRANSFER SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1962' ya: I

2/, HIGH VOLTAGE SOURCE 32 4, MW 1 F/ 40 3) T HIGH V OLTAGE l SOURCE ,2 1 2 I \LI E E Z LQ-v Ir 1 F/G 4d INVENTOR. FREDERICK A. SCHWERTZ BY March 10, 1964 Filed April 2, 1962 F. A. scHwERTz 3,124,457

DIFFERENTIAL IMAGE TRANSFER SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 POSITIVE H \l SOURCE NEGATIVE H. V SOURCE INVENTOR FREDERICK A. SCHWER'TZ A TTOR/VEY United States Patent 3,124,457 DIFFERENTIAL IMAGE TRANSFER SYSTEM Frederick A. Schwartz, Pittsford, N.Y., assignor to Xerox gorporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New ork Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,327 12 Claims. (Cl. 96-1) This invention relates in general to xerography, and in particular to a method for differentially transferring the powder image adhering to an image support member by electrostatic attraction.

In xerography it is usual to form an electrostatic image on a surface. One method of doing this is tocharge a photoconductive insulating surface and then dissipate the charge selectively by exposing to a pattern of activating radiation. trostatic images are set forth in US. 2,297,691, to C. F. Carlson. Still other means of forming electrostatic images are set forth in US. 2,576,047 to James P. Ebert, US, 2,576,447 to Ronald M. Schaffert, and U.S. 2,825,814 to Lewis B. Walkup. Whether formed by these means or any other, the resulting electrostatic pattern is conventionally utilized by the deposition of electroscopic material thereon through electrostatic attraction whereby there is formed a visible image of electroscopic particles corresponding to the electrostatic image. Alternatively, an electrostatic charge pattern may be transferred to an insulating film and then electroscopic particles deposited thereon to form the visible image. In any case, this visible image in turn'may be transferred to a second surface to form a xerographic print.

Modern business and computer needs require a variety of image recording means. For many purposes, this information may be classified into groups of fixed and variable information. Many proposals exist for various combinations of xerographic and magnetic image techniques to obtain this desired differential presentation of information. Xerography, as a basic electrostatic process, has a great deal of flexibility permitting the formation of images by either optical or non-optical methods. In contrast to this, magnetic image formation requires more complicated plate structures and is limited strictly to non-optical image formation, i.e., using a stylus, a matrix, or a sheet hole piece. Thus, machines designed to record information in both electrostatic or magnetic form in order to obtain differential recording of data require the full complement of electrostatic, magnetic and data recording instruments. Such machines are unduly cumbersome and complex. The basic xerographic process as discovered and disclosed in Carlsons basic patent on this process, U.S. 2,297,691, results in a positive-to-positive reproduction of the information to be recorded. Subsequent advances in xerography resulting in improved induction image-forming processes, and in particular in the transfer of electrostatic images (termed TESI), as described for example in US. 2,825,814, to ,Lewis B. Walkup, make possible formation of multiple electrostatic images corresponding to different informational impulses. There exists a need for a process whereby multiple visible reproductions of such multiple electrostatic images may be made with provision for transferring all of the information on an initial transfer with subsequent transfer of only a differential portion of the image.

These and other means of forming elec-' 3,124,457. Patented Mar. 10, 1964 Thus, for example, modern billing practice often entails a wholesaler shipping directly to a customer in response to an order from a retailer. In billing such a shipment the wholesaler will senda bill to the retailer reciting customer the information such as price is blocked out.

Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide means and techniques whereby differential image formation is recorded in electrostatic image formation and then utilized for the formation of a plurality of visible images or prints, the prints corresponding either to all or a portion of the differentialdata recorded. 'Other objects or advantages of the present invention, will, of course, become apparent and will immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention is directed. From a reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is, a block diagram illustrating the process of the instant invention; I

FIG. 2-a is a cross-section of a carrier granule coated with toner;

FIG. 2-11 is a cross section of toner which is both ferromagnetic and electroscopic;

FIG. 2c is a cross-section of a toner par cle which is electroscopic; I

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram partly in cross-section of apparatus illustrating one method of forming both positive and negative electrostatic images;

FIG. 4-a is a schematic diagrarn'of apparatus illustrating one means of developing two polarity images simultaneously; I

FIG. 4b is a schematic diagram partly in cross-section illustrating applying a uni-polaritycharge to a photoconductive insulating surface having thereon a two polarity powder image;

FIG. 4-0 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus illustrating the formation of a powder image on a transfer member containing all of the image areas of the initial image bearing member while permitting subsequent transfers of all or a portion of this information;

FIG. 4-d is a diagrammatic view of apparatusfor transferring selective portions of the powder'image to the image support member;

FIG. 5 isa diagrammatic view of apparatus for performing the, process of the instant invention in a continuous manner; and, p I

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention.

For purposes of clearer explanation the present inv vention will be described in terms of xerography for which it is particularly suited. In the preliminary steps from which the present invention follows, it is usual in xerography to form an electrostatic image on the xerographic plate. ,Thus, for example, a xerographic plate 10 comprising a photoconductive insulating layer 12 overlying a conductive backing member 11 as of metal, is charged to a uniform electrostatic charge and this charge selectively dissipated by exposure to a pattern of light and shadow whereupon results an electrostatic charge pattern corresponding to the shadow pattern of the image. For the differential presentation of information, it is now essential to form a second electrostatic image on the surface of layer 12 having a polarity opposite to that of the first image formed in the conventional xerographic process. This second image may be formed using TESI processes as described in the above referred to patents or alternatively by a method known as induction image formation. If desired, both polarity electrostatic images may be formed using the induction image process. In this process a sheet of highly insulating material 15 as polyethylene terephthalate is placed on top of layer 12 and is backed up by a transparent conductive surface 16 as of tin oxide coated on a transparent support base 17 such as glass, the three layers forming a sandwich electrode 14. A potential is now applied between layers 16 and 11 by suitable high voltage source 21, the polarity of the applied potential being such that layer 11 is connected to the negative side of potential source 21 and layer 16 to the positive side during exposure (these polarities are applied when the polarity of the initial electrostatic image is positive and it is desired to produce a negative polarity electrostatic image by induction). While the potential is applied activating radiation 13 illuminates the plate in the image areas as opposed to the first step wherein the incident radiation constitutes the background areas. The use of a photographic negative as the original in the induction step assures that the initial image is not erased during the second exposure. Care should be taken to assure that the exposures are carried out in register. When the radiation impinges on the layer 12 it creates hole-electron pairs. Upon application of fields from source 21 the holes migrate through layer 12 to conductive backing 11 While electrons 13 are retained on the surface layer 12 thereby creating image areas of negative polarity charges. These negative charges 19 are trapped on the surface of layer 12 facing illumination 13. When thisillumination is shut off, whereupon the potential source may be removed by opening switch 22. On removing layer 15 there is now presented a surface having image areas of both positive and negative electrostatic potential. In the process described above, the insulating layer 15 is tightly pressed against photoconductive surface 12. However, even under these conditions there is inherently a thin layer of air between layer 12 and layer 15. The drawing is exaggerated to more clearly depict the electrical relationship. The use of layer 15 increases the voltage break-down across conductors 11 and 16 and thus the voltage which may be used to induce charge on layer 12 during illumination. In any event, the resulting positive and negative images are developed; i.e., made visible, preferably by simultaneous development, by contacting the surface bearing the electrostatic images with a carrier surface having thereon both positively and negatively charged toner particles. Such a carrier is illustrated in FIG. 2-a wherein there is shown a crosssection of a granular carrier particle 38 having electrostatically coated thereon

toner particles

31 and 32. In this case the negatively charged toner particles 31 are both electroscopic and ferromagnetic and are shown in more detail in FIG. 2-b. As are illustrated, such particles comprise a ferromagnetic pigment 36 as finely divided higher ferrite, etc., dispersed in an electrostatically insulating resin 35. The positively charged toner particles 32 illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2-0 cornprise a similar electrically insulating resin binder 35 by having dispersed therein a non-ferromagnetic pigment 37 as carbon black, etc. Alternatively, the dye such as nigrosine may be used. Such developer compositions are more fully described in US. Patent 3,013,890 to William Bixby. To assure crisp, sharp reproduction of image areas it is essential in using such a two-component developer composition to draw the lines of force to the electrostatic image areas externally above the imagebearing surface. This is done by positioning an electro statically conductive electrode closely adjacent to the image-bearing surface during development. One means for doing this in conventional cascade development is to utilize a device known as a tone tray which is more fully illustrated in US. Patent 2,777,418 to Gundlach. An alternative means is illustrated in 4-a. As there shown a xerographic plate 10 having thereon areas of both positive and negative electrostatic charge is passed between two electrically conductive grounded rolls 39 and 50 as of electrically conductive rubber. The surface of roller 39 acts as a substitute for carrier particle 38 and is covered with electrostatically

coated toner particles

31 and 32. Both

cylinders

39 and 50 are rotatably mounted on and longitudinally affixed. A suitable means as a hopper 51 holds a supply 52 of two types of toner in a position so as to assure rubbing contact between the surface and cylinder 39 and the toner supply 52. The toners in supply 52 are selected according to their position in the triboelectric series relative to the material comprising the surface of cylinder 39 so that one of the two toners is given a positive charge during this rubbing contact while the other is given a negative charge. Thus, the surface of drum 39 becomes coated with positively charged toner particles 32 and negatively charged toner particles 31 just as does the granular carrier of FIG. 2a, the toner particles being bound to the surface of drum 39 by the combined forces of friction and electrostatic attraction. As stated cylinder 39 is desirably formed of conductive rubber or if necessary to assure the right triboelectric properties may be coated with a plastic having the desired triboelectric properties relative to the toner particles. Thus, cylinder 39 constitutes a grounded conductive electrode closely positioned relative to surface 12 of xerographic plate 10 hearing the electrostatic images thereon. Hence cylinder 39 acts as a development electrode to draw the lines of force of the electrostatic images externally above the surface of layer 12.

Toner particles

31 and 32 are attracted to layer 12 and deposit thereon in faithful conformity to the electrostatic image pattern thereon. Thus cylinder 39 serves the triple function, first, of supplying the toner particles for development of the electrostatic image, second, drawing the lines of force of the electrostatic lines of force externally above the surface of layer 12 thereby preventing blurring due to fringe effects, and, third, preventing deposition of toner particles in non-image areas due to the electrostatic attraction between the surface of cylinder 39 and the

toner particles

31 and 32. A uniform polarity electrostatic charge is now applied to the resulting powder image as shown in FIG. 4-b. This is most conveniently accomplished by passing over the surface of layer 12 a corona charging means as shown in US. Patents 2,777,957 to Walkup and 2,836,725 to Vyverberg thereby supplying the uniform polarity charge to layer 12 and the outer image thereon. On exposure to light there remains on the surface of layer 12 the powder image corresponding to both the first and second sheet of information to be reproduced, the powder having a single plurality electrostatic charge but the areas differing in that the differential information only is both electroscopic and ferromagnetic. An image transfer member 40 is now positioned in contact with the surface of layer 12 hearing the unipolarity powder image. This is illustrated in FIG. 4c. The spacing between the transfer member 40 and layer 12 illustrated in the drawing is merely an exaggeration to more clearly illustrate the relationships involved. In practice, member 40 will physically rest on the surface of layer 12. Next, an electrostatic charge or field is applied between member 40 and conductive backing 11 by suitable means such as for example the deposition with a corona generator of the type in the Walkup and Vyverberg patents of corona discharge on theback of member 40, the polarity being such as to transfer the image body from layer 12 to member 40. Next, and without separating member 40 from layer 12 the field of opposite polarity is applied between the two members for example, by deposition of charge of opposite polarity on the same surface of member40 as was used to effect the initial transfer. This is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4-0 which shows a first corona discharge electrode 24 connected to a source of positive potential voltage passing over the back of member 40 followed by a second corona discharge electrode 23 connected to a source 21 of negative high voltage potential. The result of this operation is that the preponclerance of the image

body containing powder

31 and 32 has been retransferred to layer 12 in image configuration but a substantial portion of the image body stays on member 40 in the form of a residual image thereon. Member 40 is then withdrawn and the powder image thereon permanently affixed to the member as by heat solvent vapor, a plastic spray or other means. The differential image transfer is accomplished as illustrated in FIG. 4-d. An electromagnet 25 comprising windings 26 around a magnetic core 27 connected to a voltage source 21 is passed over the back of a second image transfer member 41. Those image areas containing powder which is both electroscopic and ferromagnetic is transferred in image configuration to support member 41as shown in FIG. 4-d. As in FIG. 4-c member 41 is in physical contact with the surface of layer 12, the spacing having been exaggerated to show the relationships.

A device is illustrated in FIG. in diagrammatic form for carrying out the operations of the instant process in a continuous manner. As they are shown, the apparatus includes a xerographic plate in the form of a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on its longitudinal axis. Located sequentially around the circumference of the drum are means for carrying a uniform sensitizing charge on the surface of the drum as by corona discharge 24. The thus sensitized surface is then exposed to the pattern of light and shadow by suitable optical means as the photographic enlarger 70, thus forming a pattern of electrostatic images on the surface of drum 10 corresponding to the image to be reproduced. A second pattern of electrostatic charges is now placed on the surface of drum 16 as by induction image formation as described above or by a TESI process using a matrix electrode array or shaped character electrode cylinder 80 as described for example in US. Patent 2,919,- 967 to Schwertz. The two polarity electrostatic image on the surface of drum 80 is now made visible by cascading over the surface of drum 10 a developer composition comprising a carrier with the two polarity toner thereon as shown and described in connection with FIG. 2 above. Developer 30 is cascaded across the surface of drum 10 from hopper or other means 51 being collected at the other end of its path of travel over the arc of drum 10 by suitable means as a bin 55. A development electrode not shown is closely positioned next to the surface of drum 10 along the arc of travel of developer particles'30. As a result of this development step there is now placed on the surface of drum 10 a visible powder image consisting of both positive and negative polarity'particles corresponding accurately and faithfully to the pattern of electrostatic charges to be reproduced. A uniform electrostatic charge is now placed on the powder bearing surface as by corona dis- 7 charge with corona electrode 23 powered by a suitable high voltage source 21. An image transfer member feed from feed roll 53a to take-up roll 53b is urged into firm contact with an arc of drum 10 by rollers 54a and 541). During this are of contact between the surface of drum 10 and transfer unipolarity member the powder image is caused to transfer across the surface of drum 10 to transfer member 40 by applying to the back of transfer member 40 the uniform electrostatic charge by corona diseharge electrode 24 of polarity opposite the polarity of chargeimpressed on said powder image by corona electrode 53. The major portion of the powder image now adhering to transfer image 40 is now transferred back to the surface of drum 10 by applying electrostatic charge to the back of transfer member 40 with electrode 23 the same polarity as that applied by corona electrode 23. A substantial portion of the powder remains affixed to transfer member 40 after the retransference of the powder image. In effect, this transfer and retransfer by means of opposing polarity electrostatic fields impressed across the transfer member while maintaining contact between the transfer member and the image bearing surface divides the image bearing surface into two portions, a substantial portion adhering to the transfer member at the conclusion of the process While the major portion remains on the image bearing surface of,

drum 10. The powder image thus formed on transfer member' lf) faithfully conforms to the powder image on the surface of drum 10 and represents all of the image areas on drum 10 as the powder used to develop both the positive and negative portions of the original electrostatic image were electroscopic. The drum surface now passes through a magnetic transfer station wherein a transfer member 41 supplied by feed roll 53c is fed to take-up roll 53d is urged into firm contact with an arc of drum 19 by

rollers

54c and 54d. While such contact is' maintained, lines of magnetic flux are passed through transfer member 41 and drum 10 by electro- I magnet 25 comprising windings 26 powered by a suit- I able voltage supply 21 on magnetic core 27. Whereas the toners used to develop both the positive and negativeportions of the electrostatic image are electroscopic, only the toner used for one of the two polarities is also ferromagnetic. Hence, only the information represented by the electroscopic, ferromagnetic toner or a partial apparatus components which are identical with those of FIG. 5. Identical structural components include the cylindrical xerographic drum 10 and those components around the drum peripherybeginning with cleaning brush 6t) and going around the drum in a counterclockwise direction to corona electrode 23. In

addition webs

40 and 41, rolls 54a through 54d, feed rolls 53a and 530 and take-up rolls 53b and 53d may also be identical in structure and function with the identically numbered components of the FIG. 5 embodiment. It is to be noted, however, that in place of

corona electrodes

23 and 24 in the FIG. 5 embodiment there are substituted two electromagnets, 81 behind web40 and 84 within the drum 10 connected to suitable sources of potential 83 In addition, electromagnet 25 beand 87 respectively. hind web 41 in the FIG. 5 embodiment of the invention has been replaced by a corona electrode 88 connected to a suitable source of positive high voltage 89. Up to the point where the drum 10 comes in contact with web 40, the process steps of the FIG. 6 embodiment are identical with that of the FIG. 5 embodiment. However, at this point, it is seen that the portion of the particles making up the developed image on the surface of drum 10 which include a ferromagnetic component r are transferred to copy web 40 by a electromagnet 81 and when web 4t) passes under electromagnet 84 a substantial portion of these ferromagnetic toner particles are retransferred back to the drum surface. The drum then continues on in its rotation, coming into contact with web 41, and since all developer particles or toner including those particles containing a ferromagnetic component have previously been uniformly charged to a negative polarity by corona electrode 23 all of the particles remaining on the drum surface at this point are transferred to web 41 by the positive corona electrode 88 behind this Web. The result of the operation of this apparatus is that the one image which is developed with that polarity of toner particles which contain a ferromagnetic component is formed on copy web 40 while a composite image including both the image developed with toner particles containing a ferromagnetic component and the image developed with toner particles which do not contain a ferromagnetic component is transferred to copy web 41.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application S.N. 664,136, now Patent No. 3,045,644.

Another alternative is using adhesive transfer to transfer a portion of the toner particles to the first copy surface prior to magnetic transfer of the remaining magnetic particles to the second copy surface.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrostatic apparatus for forming differential images on copy surfaces comprising:

(a) an insulating image surface,

(b) means to apply two image patterns of opposite polarity electrostatic charge in register with each other to said insulating image surface,

(c) means to apply finely divided electroscopic developing particles charged to both polarities to said images, the particles charged to one of said polarities also being magnetic,

(d) means to charge the developing particles of both developed image patterns to one polarity,

(6) means to transfer a substantial portion of said particles on said images to a first copy surface,

(1) and means to magnetically transfer the remaining magnetic particles to a second copy surface.

2. An electrostatic apparatus for forming differential images on copy surfaces comprising:

(a) an insulating image surface,

(1)) means to apply two image patterns of opposite polarity electrostatic charge in register with each other to said insulating image surface,

() means to apply finely divided electroscopic developing particles charged to both polarities to said images, the particles charged to one of said polarities also being magnetic,

(e) means to transfer the particles on said images to a first copy surface,

(1) means to transfer a substantial portion of said particles back to said image surface,

(g) means to magnetically transfer the magnetic particles in said retransferred image to a second copy surface.

3. An electrostatic apparatus for forming differential images on copy surfaces comprising:

(a) an insulating image surface,

(e) means to electrostatically transfer the particles on said images to a first copy surface,

(1) means to electrostatically transfer a substantial portion of said image particles back to said image surface, and

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means to charge the developing particles of both the developed image patterns to one polarity comprises a corona gen erator.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said electrostatic transfer means comprise opposite polarity corona generators.

6. An electrostatic apparatus for forming differential images on copy surfaces comprising:

(a) an insulating image surface,

((1') means to magnetically transfer the magnetic developing particles making up one of said images to a first copy surface,

(2) means to magnetically retransfer a substantial portion of said magnetic particle image back to said image surface,

(7'') means to charge the developing particles of both developed image patterns to one polarity, and

(g) means to electrostatically transfer said one polarity particles to a second copy surface.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means to charge the developing particles of both developed image patterns to one polarity comprises a corona generator.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means to magnetically transfer said magnetic developing particles to said first copy surface comprises a magnet on the opposite side of said copy surface from said image surface.

9. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means for retransferring a substantial portion of said magnetic particles back to said image surface comprises a magnet on the opposite side of said image surface from said first copy surface.

10. A process for the formation of two differential images comprising:

(a) placing two opposite polarity latent electrostatic charge patterns in register with each other on an insulating image surface,

(b) developing said two charge patterns by bringing finely divided electroscopic material, portions of which are charged to each polarity, into proximity with said charge patterns, the electroscopic material charged to one of said polarities also being ferromagnetic,

(c) charging the particles residing on said two developed images to one polarity,

(d) transferring a portion of said images from said image surface to a copy surface,

(e) and then magnetically transferring said ferromagnetic particles to a second copy surface.

11. A process according to claim 8 in which at least one of said electrostatic charge patterns is placed on said surface by a TESI discharge.

12. A process for the formation of two differential images comprising:

(1)) developing said two charge patterns by bringing finely divided .electroscopic material, portions of which are charged to each polarity, into proximity with said charge patterns, the electroscopic material charged to one of said polarities also being ferromagnetic,

(d) magnetically transferring a portion of said magnetic particle image from said surface to a copy surface,

10 (e) and then electrostatically transferring remaining particles on said image surface to a second copy surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. AN ELECTROSTATIC APPARATUS FOR FORMING DIFFERENTIAL IMAGES ON COPY SURFACES COMPRISING: (A) AN INSULATING IMAGE SURFACE, (B) MEANS TO APPLY TWO IMAGE PATTERNS OF OPPOSITE POLARITY ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE IN REGISTER WITH EACH OTHER TO SAID INSULATING IMAGE SURFACE, (C) MEANS TO APPLY FINELY DIVIDED ELECTROSCOPIC DEVELOPING PARTICLES CHARGED TO BOTH POLARITIES TO SAID IMAGES, THE PARTICLES CHARGED TO ONE OF SAID POLARITIES ALSO BEING MAGNETIC, (D) MEANS TO CHARGE THE DEVELOPING PARTICLES OF BOTH DEVELOPED IMAGE PATTERNS TO ONE POLARITY, (E) MEANS TO TRANSFER A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID PARTICLES ON SAID IMAGES TO A FIRST COPY SURFACE, (F) AND MEANS TO MAGNETICALLY TRANSFER THE REMAINING MAGNETIC PARTICLES TO A SECOND COPY SURFACE.